Updated at 5:42 p.m. Monday with comment from the Call of Duty League.
The Call of Duty League is considering a bubble environment for the 2021 season, though planning for next year is still in preliminary stages, a source confirmed Monday to The Dallas Morning News.
The Esports Observer reported Monday, citing unnamed sources, that publisher Activision Blizzard asked team owners to consider relocating to central locations -- possibly Las Vegas or Dallas -- for next season in case of continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the CDL’s inaugural season online. A source indicated that safety is a primary concern, and areas without widespread COVID-19 spread would make the most logical sense if the league went a bubble route.
“The Call of Duty League has not yet revealed its plans for the 2021 season,” a spokesman said in an emailed response to questions about the possibility of a bubble. “More information will be announced later this year.”
Mike Rufail, Envy Gaming owner and chief gaming officer, declined to comment when contacted Monday by The News.
The NBA, WNBA and NHL all are utilizing bubbles to maintain uninterrupted play while COVID-19 still ravages parts of the country. Dallas County remains a hotspot for the virus, though numbers have steadily declined locally in the past few weeks.
Arlington, which already has a dedicated esports arena, will host parts of the 2020 MLB postseason, including the World Series. There is a possibility that fans could be allowed in accordance with statewide orders.
A bubble was briefly discussed ahead of the 2020 Call of Duty League postseason, Empire coach Raymond “Ray” Lussier revealed earlier this month, though it was not something that the league pursued.
Other options for the 2021 season, which does not have an announced start date, would be homestand model and online play.
Online play was criticized by professionals earlier in the year as the league rushed to adapt to the unique circumstances. The league added dedicated servers and ended up playing the finals on a delay, earning praise from pro players who recognized the difficulties in hosting the competition.
The inaugural season was won by the Dallas Empire, which is headquarted in Victory Plaza.
